It’s a consensus by many that Auburn is a great town and a great place to raise a family, as there have been many fine families that have resided here over the city’s history. The Alberici clan is most certainly no exception. What about these legends?

On Saturday, Maxine and Gino will be celebrating their 50th anniversary with their six childen and 17 grandchildren. Maxine is a retired home economics teacher from Auburn High School and she has always been involved in our community activites, serving as chair memebr of the Community Preservation Committee and she coordinates the Red Cross blood drive at Sacred Heart. She chairs the historical and cultural sites committee and also is involved with Matthew House.

Maxine and Gino co-chaired the 2009 United Way Fund drive. Gino is a retired social studies teacher as well as a legendary football coach at Port Byron for 34 years. He serves on the Tompkins Trust Board and the County Parks and Trails commission. He just completed a 12-year term on the Owasco town board and was a member of the YMCA board of directors.

Their children were all former student-athletes at AHS and continue to be involved as coaches. Jim, the oldest, played as a quarterback at AHS and he also played basketball and lacrosse. He graduated from Niagara University. He works for the county as a workforce development specialist and he has been the head basketball coach for the Lady Spartans of CCC for the last 15 years with more than 200 wins. Jim and his wife Kristie have three daughters; Jamie, Sydney and Lexi.

Joanne is married to Steve Lippert and they live on Onondga Hill with their four daughters; Lindsey, Kelly, Lily and Kara. JoAnne played soccer for AHS and then graduated from George Mason University. She manages the Doctor-Medical Complex at Crouse-Irving Hospital.

John is a graduate of State University College at Albany and he and his wife Wendy have three daughers; Jessie, Jena and Jillian. John earned 12 letters for the Maroons in football, wrestling and lacrosse. He was the CANUS Athlete of the Year, and is also a member of the AHS Hall of Fame. He is now the CEO of Champions for Life. He played football at Albany and he is the assistant wrestling coach at AHS.

Joe played football and lacrosse at AHS and he scored the last touchdown of Coach Bob Adams’ career. Joe still holds six records for the Alfred University lacrosse team. He was named to the Division III All-American team, as well as an academic All-American. He is in both the AHS and the Alfred University Hall of Fame. He’s the head lacrosse coach at West Point, where he lives with his wife, Petra and their children, Maximus and Isabella.

Jeff played football, lacrosse and wrestling for AHS and played football for Wooster College, then transferred to State University College at Cortland, where he got his degree. He was also the CANUS Athlete of the Year and he is now a teacher at Auburn Middle School where he also coaches modified lacrosse. He and his wife Megan have three children; Anthony, Nicholas and Sara.

Jason, with his wife, Leigh live in Cumming, Ga. along with their children Jack and Ella. Jason works in marketing with the company of Cartera Commerce. Jason also earned 12 letters at AHS in football, lacrosse and wrestling and was captain of all three sports in his senior year. He was also a CANUS Athlete of the Year, and he played football and lacrosse for Albany State where he captained the lacrosse team for three years.

To Maxine and Gino, a happy 50th to you both and a large thanks to you and all your family for being legends of Auburn!